Invitrogen Introduces Production of Animal-Origin Free AGT(R) Media Formulation in New Grand Island Facility; Several Clients Have Validated and Are Taking Delivery of Product.GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. -- Invitrogen Corporation (Nasdaq:IVGN), today announced that it has expanded production capabilities of animal-origin free Advanced Granulation granulation /gran·u·la·tion/ (-shun) 1. the division of a hard substance into small particles. 2. the formation in wounds of small, rounded masses of tissue during healing; also the mass so formed. Technology (AGT AGT antiglobulin test. (R)) media on its Grand Island, New York Grand Island is a town and an island in Erie County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 18,621. The current town name derives from the French name "La Grande Isle," as Grand Island is the largest island in the Niagara River. , campus. Under construction for the past year, a new facility has been validated for production of Invitrogen's proprietary media formulation in an animal-origin free environment. Several pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients have already begun receiving material manufactured in the facility. "Pharmaceutical manufacturers are increasingly demanding that their raw materials are free from animal components," explained Nicolas Barthelemy, Invitrogen's Senior Vice President, BioProduction Systems and Services. "Our company had an opportunity to address this critical issue and offer our unique formulation at the same time -- both aspects advancing one of the key bottlenecks in drug production. This investment is one element of our ongoing plan to keep Grand Island and Invitrogen's GIBCO GIBCO Grand Island Biological Company (tissue culture media enterprise) brand at the forefront of cell culture research." Invitrogen invested over $9 million in the facility to transform the 11,000 square feet of existing space on the campus -- addressing several functions, including production of AGT media for internal research projects, internalization Internalization A decision by a brokerage to fill an order with the firm's own inventory of stock. Notes: When a brokerage receives an order they have numerous choices as to how it should be filled. of technology for contract manufacturing capabilities and reduction of manufacturing costs. Relying on feedback from its customers, Invitrogen developed its process to complement its customers' manufacturing requirements and emphasized defined areas of control such as materials, manpower and excursions. The company evaluated more than 800 raw materials involved in AGT production and verified that they were free of animal components. It also created protocols for the manufacturing and production environment, including stringent requirements for staff gowning, contamination controls such as airlocks, irradiation of clothing, tools, etc., as well as separate locker facilities. "Animal component free production of AGT continues an advantage that Invitrogen enjoys in the industry," said Bob Burrier, Invitrogen's Vice President, Research and Development, BioProduction Systems and Services. "As we move forward, we will look to increase production capability to meet our customers' need for new variations of our proprietary technology." Invitrogen's AOF AOF Academy Of Finance (New York State Department of Education) AOF Afrique Occidentale Française (French) AOF Avon Old Farms (Avon, CT school) production facility furthers its commitment to the growth of one of its key areas in GIBCO. The addition also solidifies the GIBCO business as one of the Buffalo area's largest life science entities with more than 500 local employees. About AGT: The AGT format provides the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries with a number of advantages compared to conventional dry powder Dry Powder A slang term for cash reserves kept on hand to cover future obligations. Notes: For example, if a venture capitalist expects bad times in the IPO markets you might hear him say something like, "we want to keep enough dry powder around to keep funding our media. AGT media are complete and require no supplementation or pH adjustment, thus eliminating procurement, dispensing and process steps, and improving set-up time in large-scale media and buffer preparation operations. The new format substantially improves dissolution rates compared to dry powdered media and also dramatically reduces the generation of dust, keeping preparation areas cleaner, safer and lessening the chance of cross-contamination. The granules Granules Small packets of reactive chemicals stored within cells. Mentioned in: Allergic Rhinitis, Allergies dissolve much more quickly than dry powdered media, reducing media prep time. By reducing costs and time involved in materials planning and procurement, quality testing, supplementation and clean up of prep areas, AGT media decrease total cycle costs while they increase yield. About Invitrogen Corporation Invitrogen Corporation (Nasdaq:IVGN) provides products and services that support academic and government research institutions and pharmaceutical and biotech companies worldwide in their efforts to improve the human condition. The company provides essential life science technologies for disease research, drug discovery, and commercial bioproduction. Invitrogen's own research and development efforts are focused on breakthrough innovation in all major areas of biological discovery including functional genomics Noun 1. functional genomics - the branch of genomics that determines the biological function of the genes and their products genomics - the branch of genetics that studies organisms in terms of their genomes (their full DNA sequences) , proteomics, bioinformatics and cell biology Cell biology The study of the activities, functions, properties, and structures of cells. Cells were discovered in the middle of the seventeenth century after the microscope was invented. -- placing Invitrogen's products in nearly every major laboratory in the world. Founded in 1987, Invitrogen is headquartered in Carlsbad, California Carlsbad is a coastal resort-town in northern San Diego County, California. According to the state Department of Finance, the city had a total population of 90,271 in 2003. , and conducts business in more than 70 countries around the world. The company globally employs approximately 4,800 professionals and had revenues of more than $1.2 billion in 2005. For more information, visit www.invitrogen.com. Safe Harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. Statement Certain statements contained in this press release are considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995, and it is Invitrogen's intent that such statements be protected by the safe harbor created thereby. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: 1) Invitrogen will increase production capability in the new facility in the future. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks: a) Production capability of the AOF facility may vary, as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Invitrogen's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion